Abstract

Since speaking well in English is crucial for English language literature undergraduates, the present study aimed at describing difficulties that may be encountered at an EFL setting. The sample was stratified random as drawn from six Jordanian public universities. Survey questionnaires as well as semi-structured interviews were constructed. 64 students were interviewed out of 566 students who responded to a survey questionnaire. The findings of the study exposed a perceived failure of EFL students’ speaking skill in English was reported together with reasons that explain such perceived difficulty. The results of the study showed a ‘low’ speaking proficiency level among EFL undergraduates along with negligible instruction of the speaking skill at university courses’ level. More highlighted difficulties by this study were as these of: communication in L1, large classes, and lack of time.

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